Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

Japan's priceless asteroid Ryugu sample got 'rapidly colonized' by Earth bacteria


"The fact that terrestrial microbes are the Earth's best colonizers means we can never completely discount terrestrial contamination."

None

Get the Android app

Or read this on Space.com

Read more on:

Photo of Japan

Japan

Photo of Ryugu sample

Ryugu sample

Photo of priceless asteroid

priceless asteroid

Related news:

News photo

Dino droppings reveal how the giant beasts came to dominate Earth

News photo

Goodnight moon! Astronomers snap photo of Earth's departing mini-moon

News photo

New pterosaur species discovered in Japan. Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new species of quetzalcoatline azhdarchid pterosaur, Nipponopterus mifunensis, from Japan's Late Cretaceous period.